Chesapeake College Nursing Program Review (2026): Mid-Shore ADN & Outcomes
Public community college in Wye Mills, Maryland, serving the Mid-Shore through the Chesapeake College/MGW Nursing Program: an ACEN-accredited, Board-approved RN (ADN) pathway with selective TEAS admissions, optional advanced placement for qualified LPN/paramedic/EMS students, and dual-admission RN-to-BSN partners. Tuition tiers depend on five-county residency; NCLEX figures below follow Maryland Board of Nursing fiscal-year reporting as published on the college’s outcomes tables.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
Chesapeake’s MGW nursing program publishes transparent, points-based selection (prerequisite GPA, TEAS bands, degrees, and science completion), prioritizes Mid-Shore county residents at key point thresholds, and posts multi-year NCLEX and graduate-survey outcome tables—plus dual-admission RN-to-BSN bridges with partner universities while you complete the associate degree on the Wye Mills campus.
Overview & Why Students Choose Chesapeake College
On the Mid-Shore, Chesapeake College anchors healthcare workforce development from its Wye Mills campus. The Chesapeake College/MGW Nursing Program delivers a face-to-face Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree—we refer to it here as an ADN (associate-degree RN) pathway consistent with national usage. The program holds ACEN continuing accreditation and Maryland Board of Nursing approval, with coursework in the Health Professions and Athletics Center including high-fidelity simulation referenced on the college site.
Chesapeake publishes extensive outcome tables: multi-year NCLEX-RN comparisons (including a separate Advanced Pathway row), completion statistics, and graduate employment survey lines. Those disclosures are useful alongside the Maryland Board of Nursing annual NCLEX PDFs when you compare programs.
First-time NCLEX-RN percentages in the NCLEX section come from the fiscal-year comparison table on Chesapeake’s Registered Nurse program page (aligned with Maryland Board of Nursing reporting). For the authoritative PDF, use the Board’s NCLEX-RN FY 2024 document and newer fiscal years on the Board’s hub. Confirm the latest cohort with both sources.
Reasons students choose Chesapeake
Published selection formula
The nursing department publishes prerequisite GPA bands, TEAS point tiers, and county-residency priority rules so applicants can estimate how ranking works before the May application deadline.
Mid-Shore clinical footprint
Clinical education emphasizes community and hospital experiences across the college’s five-county service region rather than a single urban campus—useful if you plan to work locally after licensure.
Dual-admission BSN partners
The Associate-to-Bachelor’s option coordinates online upper-level coursework with partners such as APUS, Frostburg State, Stevenson University Online, and UMSON while you progress through the ADN—each partner sets its own prerequisites.
Residency-based tuition tiers
Tuition per credit is lowest for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, with higher rates for other Maryland counties and out-of-state students on the official schedule.
Student nursing community
The college lists a Student Nursing Organization and Alpha Delta Nu honor society (invitation-only) to build peer support outside of class and lab.
Nursing Programs Offered
Chesapeake’s credit nursing portfolio centers on one Board-approved RN program name on the website—Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree—delivered as the MGW Nursing Program on the Wye Mills campus. Keep degree level (ADN), program type (pre-licensure RN), pathway (traditional fall cohort vs. advanced placement), and delivery (face-to-face labs and clinicals; partner-university online courses only where dual admission applies) separate as you plan.
Pre-licensure (RN)
Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree (MGW)
Combines general education, nursing theory, and supervised clinical experiences preparing graduates for the NCLEX-RN. The program page notes students must maintain a 75% average on examinations in each nursing course to progress. ACEN continuing accreditation; Maryland Board of Nursing approval.
Advanced Placement (Accelerated Pathway)
Chesapeake publishes separate outcome rows for Advanced Pathway students (including clinical course fees such as NUR 131 in the fee schedule). Entry is selective; FY 2024 NCLEX data on the program page state no advanced-pathway graduates testing that year. Confirm prerequisites and seat availability with the program director.
Post-licensure planning (not awarded by Chesapeake)
Associate-to-Bachelor’s (ATB) dual admission
Eligible students may pursue coordinated RN-to-BSN coursework through partners including APUS, Frostburg State University, Stevenson University Online, and UMSON—each sets prerequisites and policies; Chesapeake awards the associate degree, not the BSN.
Other healthcare offerings
Chesapeake lists noncredit CNA and other workforce credentials under Health Professions; those are not the RN degree program. Always verify the current credit program list in the college catalog.
Catalog credits and course titles can change. Before applying, confirm the active curriculum on the official Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree page and the Nursing Admissions Information Packet.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Chesapeake College publishes a NCLEX Pass Rates Comparison table on its Registered Nurse program page with fiscal years aligned to Maryland Board of Nursing reporting. For FY 2024 (July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024), that table lists Chesapeake College at a reported 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the main program row, compared with a 94% Maryland average and 92% national average shown in the same table. For Advanced Pathway students, the separate row states “No Advanced Pathway Graduates Testing” in FY 2024 (meaning no first-time testers from that track in the period as reported there).
To verify the same fiscal year in the Board’s official PDF, open the NCLEX-RN FY 2024 document from the Maryland Board of Nursing statistics index. Cohort sizes and tester counts appear in those PDFs; reconcile any rounding differences between the Board table and the college’s summary.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (main program, FY 2024) | 100% per Chesapeake College fiscal-year comparison table (Maryland BON–aligned) |
| Maryland average (same table row) | 94% (FY 2024, as shown on Chesapeake’s comparison table) |
| Advanced Pathway (FY 2024) | No advanced-pathway graduates testing (per Chesapeake’s Advanced Pathway row) |
| Source | Chesapeake College — Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree (NCLEX comparison tables). Official PDFs: Maryland Board of Nursing NCLEX hub (NCLEX-RN FY 2024 PDF). Confirm current rates with the Board and the college. |
NCLEX outcomes vary by cohort and pathway. Always confirm the latest first-time pass rates with the Maryland Board of Nursing and Chesapeake’s published outcome tables.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Chesapeake College publishes an international fee per semester on its tuition schedule and follows Maryland residency rules for tuition classification. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, verify F-1 eligibility for the nursing program (including clinical placement requirements), English-proficiency expectations, and transcript evaluation steps with the Admissions office before counting on a start date.
- English proficiency: Confirm TOEFL/IELTS or other requirements for your applicant type.
- Credential evaluation: Plan for course-by-course evaluation if required for prerequisites.
- Maryland Board of Nursing: For licensure and NCLEX eligibility after graduation, follow current Board rules.
- Visa & clinical sites: Some sites require background checks and SSN documentation—ask early if any restriction could affect rotations.
Policies change; this section is guidance only—not legal advice.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Chesapeake is open admission to the college, but the MGW Nursing Program uses a separate selective application after prerequisites and TEAS are complete. Applicants are rank ordered by points (prerequisite GPA, TEAS band, prior degrees, completion of BIO 212/202, and more). Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee a seat.
Application timeline (published)
| Program / cycle | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing — fall start | May 25 (applications open ~1 year prior) | TEAS must be completed by the deadline; notifications targeted first week of July. |
| Orientation (example) | Mid-July | Program page lists an orientation date (e.g., July 14, 2026 for Fall 2026)—confirm annually. |
RN academic requirements (summary)
- Prerequisites (grade C or better by deadline): BIO 211, PSC 150, ENG 101, and a math elective from MAT 113/115/140/204 (BIO 212 and BIO 202 strongly recommended).
- ATI TEAS: Required; points scale from 0–6 based on overall TEAS percentage (for example, 92%+ earns the highest tier on the published table).
- County priority: Residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties with 12+ admission points receive first consideration for seats; other groups follow in the published order.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed as a single percentage. |
| TEAS | Required; scores weighted in point system (see Nursing Admissions Packet). |
| Re-application | Students not admitted may re-apply a future cycle; unsuccessful enrolled students may petition for re-enrollment per college policy. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
Chesapeake’s Tuition & Costs page lists 2025–26 regular tuition per credit hour of $131 for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties; $227 for other Maryland counties; and $317 for out-of-state students. All credit students also pay a $37 consolidated fee per credit, a $10 registration fee per registration transaction, and—where applicable—a $500 international fee per semester.
Nursing courses add substantial program/course fees (for example, multiple NUR courses listed at $1,422 each in the Health Professions fee table). The college also publishes 2025–26 estimated cost of attendance totals (for example, $4,724 tuition & fees for full-time, two semesters in the “living at home” table before books and living expenses).
| Metric | Value (2025–26, Chesapeake) |
|---|---|
| Tuition per credit | $131 resident counties · $227 other MD · $317 out-of-state (+ $37 consolidated fee/credit) |
| Nursing clinical courses (examples) | NUR 114, 121, 212, 222 listed at $1,422 each; NUR 131 at $316 (see course fee schedule) |
| Source | Chesapeake College — Tuition & Costs. Confirm current amounts before registering. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
NCLEX: Use the FY 2024 figures summarized in the NCLEX section (from Chesapeake’s BON-aligned comparison table) and verify newer fiscal years on the Maryland Board hub. Employment: Chesapeake publishes graduate survey tables with counts of respondents employed in nursing full- or part-time by graduation year—for example, 2024 shows 19 survey respondents and 19 employed in nursing (full or part time) with an ELA percentage of 100% in that row (per the MGW outcomes table on the program page). Treat these as self-reported, survey-based metrics, not a guaranteed placement rate.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time (FY 2024, main table) | 100% per Chesapeake fiscal-year comparison (see NCLEX section). |
| Graduate employment survey (example: 2024) | 19/19 respondents employed in nursing roles per MGW outcomes table (methodology on program page). |
| Source | Chesapeake College — Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree (outcomes tables). Confirm current cohort data with the program. |
Is Chesapeake College the Right Fit for You?
Chesapeake fits students who want a public, two-year ADN tied to the Mid-Shore counties, can attend face-to-face labs and clinicals, and are prepared for a points-based selective admission process with a single annual application deadline.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Live in or can relocate to Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, or Talbot counties for lower tuition tiers and clinical proximity.
- Want an ACEN-accredited ADN with published TEAS and GPA point rules.
- Plan to work in rural/suburban community hospitals, clinics, or long-term care after licensure.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a spring or rolling start—RN cohort entry is fall-only.
- Expect guaranteed admission without strong prerequisites and TEAS performance.
- Cannot meet clinical clearance, immunization, or background-check requirements for Maryland sites.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Chesapeake’s service area spans Maryland’s Eastern Shore—clinical rotations typically emphasize community hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care, and public health settings in and around the five-county region. Students may encounter University of Maryland Shore Regional Health facilities and other community providers serving the Mid-Shore; exact sites rotate by semester and capacity. Rural and small-community nursing contexts are common, which can differ from training in large urban trauma centers.
| Theme | Details |
|---|---|
| Clinical variety | Hospital, community, and chronic-care settings across the Eastern Shore per program sequencing. |
| Employer demand | Regional hospitals and clinics continue to recruit RNs; verify openings and residency programs with employers directly. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing leadership and labs are housed in the Health Professions and Athletics Center on the Wye Mills campus; the college markets high-fidelity simulation labs for scenario-based learning. Student life includes a Student Nursing Organization and an invitation-only Alpha Delta Nu nursing honor society; broader campus clubs and athletics provide additional outlets outside the nursing sequence.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus
- Wye Mills, MD
- Address
- 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679, US
- Main phone
- 410-822-5400
- Nursing program director
- Dr. Heather Westerfield — 410-827-5935 (Health Professions and Athletics Center 203M)
- Admissions
- 410-822-5400 ext. 2240 · admissions@chesapeake.edu
- Website
- chesapeake.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the Nursing Admissions Information Packet and map prerequisites to your transcripts.
- Schedule the ATI TEAS early enough to meet the May 25 deadline and maximize points.
- Meet with a Chesapeake advisor to confirm BIO placement and math elective selection.
- Build a budget using the tuition & fees and nursing course fees.
- Bookmark the Maryland BON NCLEX hub for pass-rate PDFs.
- Complete the FAFSA and the Chesapeake College Foundation scholarship application.
- Plan travel to Wye Mills and Eastern Shore clinical sites for the full program length.
Frequently Asked Questions
What first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate does Maryland data show for Chesapeake College?
Chesapeake’s Registered Nurse program page publishes a fiscal-year NCLEX comparison aligned with Maryland Board of Nursing reporting. For FY 2024, the main program row shows a reported 100% first-time pass rate versus a 94% Maryland average in the same table. The Advanced Pathway row shows no graduates testing in FY 2024. Confirm the official figures in the Maryland BON NCLEX-RN FY 2024 PDF and newer fiscal years.
Does Chesapeake College require the TEAS for its RN program?
Yes. All applicants must complete the ATI TEAS; scores are converted to points (up to 6 points at 92% and higher on the published table). Do not submit the nursing application until after TEAS completion. Confirm deadlines and tiers in the current Nursing Admissions Information Packet.
How much is tuition at Chesapeake College for nursing students?
For 2025–26, Chesapeake lists $131 per credit for residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties; $227 for other Maryland counties; and $317 for out-of-state, plus a $37 consolidated fee per credit and registration fees. Nursing courses carry additional per-course clinical fees. See the official Tuition & Costs page.
When are Chesapeake College nursing applications due?
New RN students start in the fall. The program page states applications and supporting documents are due May 25, with TEAS completed by that date, and decision notifications in early July. Verify dates annually.
What nursing programs does Chesapeake College offer?
Chesapeake offers the Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degree (MGW program) as an ACEN-accredited ADN pathway, plus an Advanced Placement track for eligible LPN/paramedic/EMS students. RN-to-BSN progression is available through dual-admission partners (APUS, Frostburg State, Stevenson University Online, UMSON). Confirm noncredit vs. credit offerings separately in the catalog.
Is Chesapeake College nursing a good fit if I live outside the five resident counties?
You may apply, but tuition is higher and admissions priority follows the published county tiers. Compare total cost including nursing course fees and commuting to Wye Mills and clinical sites.
Where can I verify Chesapeake College nursing employment survey results?
The Registered Nurse program page includes MGW outcomes tables with graduate counts and self-reported employment in nursing by year. These are program disclosures—confirm interpretation with the nursing department.
Does Chesapeake College offer Practical Nursing (LPN) as a credit program?
This guide reflects the credit RN (A.S./ADN) program and advanced placement pathway on the college’s Health Professions pages. If you need an LPN certificate, verify current credit offerings in the catalog or with admissions rather than assuming availability.
What nursing student organizations and labs does Chesapeake highlight?
The college highlights simulation labs in the Health Professions and Athletics Center, a Student Nursing Organization, and Alpha Delta Nu (invitation-only). Participation varies; confirm active chapters on the student life pages.
References
- Chesapeake College — Nursing: Registered Nurse A.S. Degreechesapeake.edu/program/nursing-registered-nurse-a-s-degree/
- Chesapeake College — Nursing Admissions Information Packet (PDF)2026 Nursing Admissions Information Packet
- Chesapeake College — Tuition & Costscosts-funding/credit/tuition-costs
- Chesapeake College — Contactabout/contact
- Maryland Board of Nursing — NCLEX exam statistics indexeducation-nclex-stats
- Maryland Board of Nursing — NCLEX-RN FY 2024 PDFnclex-rn-stats-fy2024.pdf
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX figures against Chesapeake’s published Maryland BON–aligned tables, tuition figures against Chesapeake’s 2025–26 Tuition & Costs page, and program scope against the college’s Registered Nurse program page and admissions packet.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Maryland Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-24 · Last reviewed: March 24, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy